New York has long served as a model for equality and fairness on several issues includingwomen’s rights. At the 2013 State of the State Address, Governor Cuomo announced plans toadvance a 10-Point Women’s Equality Act that will break down barriers that perpetuatediscrimination and inequality based on gender.

1. Achieve Pay Equity: Women in New York earn 84% of what men earn. This wage gap iseven more severe for African-American and Hispanic Women, who earn 66% and 55% ofthat earned by non-Hispanic men in New York State, respectively. This amendment to thecurrent law would ensure that women receive the wages they were always entitled to, as wellas provide for an additional amount of liquidated damages equal to 300% of the back wagesdue. This new law would also tighten current exceptions so that pay differentials are onlyallowed when the employer can show that the differential is based on something other thansex and is related to job performance. Additionally, the proposal will prohibit employersfrom terminating or retaliating against employees who share wage information, a practicethat enables wage disparities to persist undetected.

2. Stop Sexual Harassment in All Workplaces: Three quarters of the sexual harassmentcomplaints filed in this State are filed by women. This amendment to the current law wouldprotect workers from sexual and other forms of harassment regardless of the size of theworkplace. Under the new law, an employee of any business, large or small, may file acomplaint for sexual harassment.

3. Allow for the Recovery of Attorneys’ Fees in Employment and Credit and LendingCases: Over 75% of the employment and credit and lending cases in this State are filed bywomen. The current law states that an individual cannot recover attorneys’ fees foremployment and credit and lending discrimination cases even after proving discrimination attrial. As a result (a) many who are discriminated against never seek redress; (b) those whohire an attorney on a contingency fee arrangement are not “made whole” for their lossesbecause they must pay for their attorneys out of their recovery; and (c) some who cannotafford to hire an attorney, but who try to do so on a contingency basis, are unsuccessfulbecause the case is either too small or too risky. This plan would amend the law to include aprovision for reasonable attorneys’ fees for successful litigants, and ensure that victims ofemployment and credit and lending discrimination – most of whom are women – have anopportunity to vindicate their rights.

4. Strengthen Human Trafficking Laws: Human trafficking is a crime that exploitsvulnerable individuals through force, fraud or coercion. The victims of sex trafficking arealmost always women. The plan strengthens the existing law to remove the requirementsthat “coercion” be proven when the victims are minors, increase penalties for trafficking andcreate an affirmative defense in prostitution prosecutions that the defendant’s participationwas a result of having been a sex trafficking victim.

5. End Family Status Discrimination: Women with children are less likely to berecommended for hire and promoted, and, in most cases, are offered less in salary thansimilarly situated men. This proposal would amend the current law to prohibit employersfrom denying work or promotion to workers simply because they have children.

6. Stop Source-of-Income Discrimination: Many households suffer discrimination bylandlords who are unwilling to rent to voucher holders. Female-headed households accountfor 76% of all housing choice vouchers issued, including section 8 vouchers. Thisamendment to the Human Rights Law will prohibit landlords from discriminating againsttenants based on lawful sources of income.

7. Stop Housing Discrimination for Victims of Domestic Violence: Discrimination againstvictims of domestic violence is almost always discrimination against women – 85% ofdomestic violence victims are women. Under current state law, victims of domestic violencehave no protection from discrimination in housing, meaning landlords can evict victims ofdomestic violence under zero-tolerance policies. This amendment to the Human Rights Lawwould protect victims of domestic violence from discrimination when they attempt topurchase, rent, or lease housing. In addition, the new law would prohibit landlords frominquiring about domestic violence victim status, as well as create an eviction defense inhousing court requiring judges to consider facts related to domestic violence in theirdecision-making.

8. Stop Pregnancy Discrimination Once and For All: In order to adequately protect the rightsof pregnant workers, it is necessary to create a specific protection in the Human Rights Lawrequiring employers to provide a reasonable accommodation for pregnancy-relatedconditions. Once amended, New York State law will serve as a model for all other states inthe nation seeking to protect pregnant women from discrimination in the workplace.

9. Protect Victims of Domestic Violence by Strengthening Order-of-Protection Laws:Women face too many obstacles in securing protection from their abusers. Requiring victimsof domestic violence victims seeking an order of protection to be in physical proximately totheir abuser in court may be traumatic, unsafe, intimidating, and may ultimately influencetestimony. This amendment will ensure that victims of domestic violence will be allowed toprovide all required testimony by video-conference.

10. Protect a Woman’s Freedom of Choice by Enacting the Reproductive Health Act: NewYork was a national leader protecting choice even before the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wadedecision. Governor Cuomo will continue to vigorously protect a woman’s right to choose.Therefore, he will fight for passage of the Reproductive Health Act, which will protect thefundamental right of reproductive freedom and a woman’s right to make private health caredecisions. A woman facing an unplanned or problem pregnancy should have the opportunityto make the best decision for herself and her family, whether her decision is continuing thepregnancy, adoption, or abortion.